Abstract

The review argues that successful educational leadership is the capacity of school leaders to successfully transfer their learning in order to optimise student attainment. Drawing on literature from the business and educational paradigms, key areas of educational leadership are critically analysed. The paper argues for a fresh perspective of educational leadership that maximising student achievement is the key function of leadership and should always be visibly placed. The review proposes a multi-dimensional framework of educational leadership that emphasises five key aspects: definitions, dramatic moments, distribution, development and design for learning transfer. The practical implication is that principals and school leaders might consider sharing their definitions and perspectives, dramatic moments, learning aspirations, their wisdom and their plans to use their newly acquired knowledge. Designer leadership therefore refers to refining systemic learning transfer mechanisms within schools based on learning cultures so leaders’ learning can be shared and transferred to optimise student outcomes.